Po'omau Trail = Punishment for Drunkeness

The weekend started off pretty nicely with 12 mile mountain bike ride on one of the hunting roads in Koke'e State park. Great riding surface, though the views from this particular trail were lacking. I had the camera with me, but the battery was at home. I did run into a few goats and about a half dozen bulls on the trail. Thankfully, the bulls (horns and all) were more scared of me than I of them.

We spent most of Friday and Saturday around the house. Em took care of some bills while I finally finished getting the garage organized. Only took a month and a half.

Friday night we joined the rest of the Kauai crew for drinks and free tacos at the Olympic Cafe in Kapa'a on the "busy" east side of the island.

Saturday night we had everyone over for cashew chicken and drinks. We played some cards and next thing you know, I was the better part of a 12 pack into the night. This made for a rather painful Sunday.

On Sunday morning we headed to the Kalaheo Cafe for breakfast, our new tradition. Em decided to ride her bike on the trainer at home, while I went out to punish myself with an 8 mile hike. There's no better way to help prevent over-indulgence than by sweating out a few miles on the trail. Also, the 2ooo ft. drops on either side of the trail help steady the nerves. The hike is the Po'omau Canyon Ditch trail. Excellent canyon views with some spectacular waterfalls. (Oh yeah, I spent the first part of the hike on the wrong trail bushwhacking through jungly wild ginger - at least it smelled good.)

I'm not sure what the name of the waterfall is. It's just one of the many 400-600 ft. waterfalls that nobody really cares about.

This is the view from lunchtime looking down into Po'omau Canyon onto Po'omau Stream.

Veiws into the canyon with the ocean in the far background

Another one of those waterfalls that nobody talks about as viewed from about 1500' above.

The view from this point on the trail was, as the guidebook described, "a vista from a poets dream". A single picture doesn't do it justice because there was beauty surrounding me.

The hike back was highlighted by flowers, liliko'i (passion fruit) and me sweating full-strength Rogue Dead Guy Ale.

On a different note, after 25 years of education, I finally got my first real doctor paycheck. I promptly cashed it in singles and rolled around in it nude. I'll forgo posting any pictures of this event as it is not for the faint of heart.

More posts soon!